I’m with BrewTEAlly Sweet about the “no kidding theres tobacco in this!!” thought. Amazing the variation possible even within the same type of tea. I’ve always thought of Yunnans as a delicate, sometimes sweet black. This one is far from delicate, but don’t mistake with for being Assam-like. Its not bold and brisk. It’s a serious flavor profile with a manly vibe to it. I totally respect this tea for what it is, but it’s not my cuppa. I intend to send my second sample to my father, who will likely appreciate it better than I.

I simplified my ratings to single numbers rather than ranges because I can’t precisely compare so many teas with a system more detailed than this.

An unrated tea is most often one that I recognize as having significant notable quality, but that does not suit me personally. Sometimes, I leave teas unrated for other reasons, such as I am undecided or I brewed it wrong, etc.

Note: Boiling temp. barely reaches 200 where I am (and a few times it sticks at 195, I assume due to unexplainable shifts in altitude or the position of the moon. . .aliens?. . .).